HOPEFULLY-This might be a lesson for anyone going to Thailand and hiring a Motorbike.
A few story's what i have seen and would like to see changed. Sitting at Ron's Shop in Buriram one afternoon when school came out, watching people in cars and Motorbikes coming to pick up there children, this particular intersection near the School is so amusing to watch the Mothers on small Motorbikes, myself coming from Australia where we have Road rules, i could not believe my eyes. And this takes place every day.
This day was a showery rainy day, a Lady on a small Motorbike with a small child under her arms, holding an umbrella, and riding with one hand on the steering. and a Policeman was on Duty directing traffic. Many other instances where Cars and Motorbikes turning right from the right hand lane, remember they should be keeping to the left. all this time the Policeman was standing there directing traffic, small Children were running across the Road while cars were speeding through the school Intersection, This was not one instance but many times the same stupidity.
I was told, the Police stop work at six, so they don't have to wear a Helmet, then you see Adults wearing a Helmet and two, three, sometimes four small children on one Motorbike, without a Helmet.
Sitting at a Intersection waiting for the lights to GO GREEN, well this is humerus, they start to turn right just before the light changes to green, cars and Motorbikes dash across in front of the through traffic, this is how i almost had an accident, the lights went Green with a Green right arrow, normally i would have right of way to turn right, but i did not know the traffic coming towards me also had a green light to go straight ahead at the same time, there i was crossing in-front of through traffic, thinking i had right of way.
Now this is the humourse side of this story, I spoke to the Tourist Police about this dangerous Intersection and his comment was, I have to be careful.
The carnage on Thailand Roads from my observation and the reason they have so many deaths, young People can ride a Motorbike at the age of six or as soon as they are able to get on a Bike and ride it, I have seen them riding with other small children on the Motorbike, What road sense do they have at that age, yes they can handle a Motorbike very well, but when they get old enough to have a license they don't have any road sense, Ive seen them riding with one hand and the other on the Umbrella, but as for knowing the safety of riding a Motorbike they would not have a clue, Road Rules, Well there are none as we know them, I feel sorry for them as it is not there fault there Parents also don't know about Road Safety.
Every young Person going to high school has a Motorbike, so my advice, stay off the road when they are going to and from school.
